The nucleic acid bases:
A) absorb ultraviolet light maximally at 280 nm.
B) are all about the same size.
C) are relatively hydrophilic.
D) are roughly planar.
E) can all stably base-pair with one another.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nucleic acid bases are roughly planar, which allows for their stacking and base pairing in the double helix structure of DNA. Choice A is incorrect because only proteins absorb maximally at 280 nm, not nucleic acids. Choice B is incorrect because the bases vary in size. Choice C is incorrect because the bases are relatively hydrophobic. Choice E is incorrect because not all bases can base-pair stably with each other (e.g. adenine can only base-pair stably with thymine and guanine can only base-pair stably with cytosine).

The Nucleic Acid Bases